Extend unemployment benefits

7:19 PM,
Jan. 24, 2014

Written by

Thomas E. Perez

This winter, Katherine Hackett is wearing a hat and coat around her house. In order to save on heating costs, she keeps her thermostat set at 58 degrees. After 17 years in the health-care industry, after raising two sons who are now in the military, she got a pink slip and has been unemployed for more than a year.

So far, Congress has shown little interest in throwing her a lifeline. By failing to extend the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, Congress has cut off the jobless benefits that help Katherine and millions like her. In Mississippi this year, 37,600 unemployed people will feel ...